The next day, Grandmaster arrived with his two bodyguards to pick up Wade as always. And as always, the minion protege was up, ready, and prepared to answer right on the knock. Altough, Grandmaster wasn't wearing his usual monk-like robe. Instead, he was wearing an outfit that was more similar to Wade's, but it was dark with long sleeves and appeared to be thicker, like for cold weather. He also had leather gloves and armored gauntlets on his lower arms and legs.

"Grandmaster" Wade slightly bowed.

"Hello again Wade" he smiled.

The Grandmaster stepped back to let Wade step out of his room and close the door.

"Let's go" he instructed.

However, much to Wade's surprise, Grandmaster was leading him in the opposite direction of where the training room was. Wade furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as he walked alongside The Grandmaster.

"Are we not... heading to the training dojo?" Wade asked.

"No, today is going to be a little different"

They went to a part of the manor Wade had never been to before. It was a room much further in the back of the manor. It looked to be one of their armories/storage rooms. It had clothing for warm hiking conditions, different types of armor, shields and many different types of weapons.

"Get yourself a coat, gloves, and armored gauntlets for your arms and legs. If there is anything else you need, please grab it" Grandmaster informed.

Wade did so as instructed. He got himself a grey coat with thick leather gloves, but the boots he was already wearing worked well enough. He then got himself a good pair of gauntlets for both of his arms and another pair for his legs and latched them all on. He got the impression they were headed outside, so he decided to grab a beanie just in case.

"Now, choose your weapon" Grandmaster said once Wade was suited up.

Wade looked across the row of weapons for a moment, deciding on the wooden staff. Afterwards, The Grandmaster picked out his own wooden staff as well.

"This way, please" he instructed and Wade continued to follow him. He then noticed that the two guards were no longer escorting them.

"What about them?" he asked.

"They are fine, we will need to be alone where we are heading" Grandmaster replied.

They took the backdoor of the room which led them to a tunnel. After a minute of walking, the tunnel turned into a cave. Another minute later and Wade and The Grandmaster stepped outside of the cave and onto a frozen lake. They had to be somewhere on the mountain behind the manor, surrounded by only rock, snow, and the cave itself. It was a beautiful place, but Wade still didn't know why they were there. But he did, however, have a fairly good idea.

"This is a beautiful place, but I doubt you brought me here just to admire the scenery"

"I'm afraid not" Grandmaster smiled. "This place is beautiful, has calm environment, can make for great sanctuary and sometimes... private training sessions" he stood across from Wade on the ice, holding his staff in ready.

"You want me to fight you" Wade nodded knowingly.

"I want you to clear your head, rid yourself of whatever has held you back these past weeks, which this place also helps with" he stated.

Wade averted his gaze in embarrassment. He had been getting more frustrated these past few weeks and it was interfering with his progress. Perhaps he was trying too hard to ace his training and getting ahead of himself, but he was certainly pushing too hard. It seemed like his anger and rage was really starting to drive him, but getting the best of him at the same time.

"You're right and I'm sorry" Wade sighed. "I've just had a lot on my mind as of lately"

"And like I said, we are here to clear it" Grandmaster replied. "You must learn to control your anger in times of great frustration; and we must learn what it is that causes it" he tapped his staff hard on the ice, not leaving any cracks or anything. "The ice is strong, but maintaining balance and controlling the weight of your stance would be wise" Wade widened his eyes before looking down to make sure the ice, and his stance, was still solid. He blew out a sigh to relax himself.

"Now, let us begin" Grandmaster said.

"Wait, you honestly want us to fight?" Wade asked in disbelief.

"Are you afraid you will hurt me?" Grandmaster smirked.

"No, I know I won't hurt you, nor can I beat you" Wade almost chuckled.

"You don't have to beat me, Wade" he tapped his staff one last time before flipping it around and going into a fight stance. "Just hit me, one time"

"Just one time?" Wade asked and Grandmaster nodded.

Wade wondrously raised his eyebrows. He knew there was no way he could've beaten him in an actual fight, but to just land one hit? That could've been possible. Wade certainly had learned well in his fighting techniques. Plus, he was legitimately curious to see if he really could get just one single hit in. That would've been something.

So, Wade tapped his staff on the ice as well before flipping it around and getting into his own fighting stance. Both teacher and student were grinning, showing full determination in their eyes, and ready to do battle. The two slowly circled closer to each other, staffs pointed directly towards one another. Wade knew that he would have to be patient, let him make the first move. That's assuming of course Grandmaster even intends to make the first move, which wasn't likely to be honest. Not to mention, Grandmaster was likely a lot more patient than Wade, or anyone else at that. Wade would need to try his best, and not just be patient, but be clever, be sneaky even. He and The Grandmaster circled closer to each other until their staffs were touching. Now, it was all a matter of who made the move first.

Wade could tell there was no way that was going to be The Grandmaster, which actually wasn't bad. Because now, he could make the first move. He started off with a couple of trick shots, hoping to throw him off and catch him off guard, before landing an actual shot. However, Grandmaster was much smarter than that. Not to mention, extremely quick in his movements. He hardly even flinched from the trick shots and easily blocked the real hit. Grandmaster then pushed off of Wade's staff and slid back to avoid the knee. Wade stayed on the attack though. He swung and flipped his staff around in a quick, stylish offensive attack. The Grandmaster was just as quick to block and avoid Wade's attempts. Wade even got a little overzealous in his attempts and ran into a sweep at the feet from Grandmaster's staff. Wade landed hard and flat on his back, but was quick to fight through it and regain his stance. He aimed his staff back at The Grandmaster as he took in a breath and let it out. Grandmaster himself just kept his focus, not letting his guard down for a second. Wade kept his own focus, remembering to keep his feet steady and to stay more vigilant. He should've known better than to get carried away like that, but it wouldn't happen again. He went on the attack again, including his kicks into the mix as well. Grandmaster was so fast in his movements, it was ridiculous. He attempted to take Wade's legs again, but Wade was prepared this time. He used the leg gauntlet to block the attack and almost caught Grandmaster in the head. But again, he was so quick and slick in his movements, he managed to avoid it. Wade stayed on his attack though, not leaving any room for air. Grandmaster blocked the next few shots before catching Wade on the forehead with his staff. He followed it with a knee to the gut before shoving Wade back, sending him sliding across the ice. Wade rolled back into a stance before sending his staff flying and spinning at The Grandmaster like a giant wooden dagger. Grandmaster used his staff to smack Wade's flying one away, but then saw his protege rapidly sliding towards him on his knees. Grandmaster jumped over Wade right before he could trip him. Wade immediately hopped to his feet and charged at his master. Grandmaster turned in time to see Wade jumping into a running knee. He was able to use the momentum from the jump and his quickness to avoid the knee. Wade did however drive the knee through Grandmaster's staff, shattering it in half. It was a hell of a move, but Wade knew it wasn't enough. He actually had to get Grandmaster himself, not just take out his staff. Wade stayed on the attack, unleashing all of his punches, kicks, forearms, elbows, knees, anything he had in his arsenal. However, Grandmaster was still holding the two broken parts of his staff, and used them to his advantage. After a minute of blocking all of Wade's maneuvers, Grandmaster started wacking at him with the sticks. The hard wood clapped and cracked as it smacked against Wade's flesh. The minion protege dropped to his knees before his opponent tossed the two sticks away.

"Come on Wade, don't give up" Grandmaster said.

"Ha, as if" Wade scoffed before jumping back up and into an attack.

He did a fastly paced punching combo before attempting a jumping kick. Grandmaster blocked the combo before swaying to the side to avoid the kick. However, he also paved the way for Wade to reunite with his staff. The resilient fighter stomped on the end of the staff so it would jump up and into his hands. After that, Wade went straight back on the attack, feeling back in his prime with the staff in hand. He struck and spun and swung as fast as lightning. The Grandmaster was still quick enough to block all of Wade's attacks, using his gauntlets and his quickness as he has done throughout their fight. At one point, after Grandmaster blocked one last attack, he caught hold of Wade's staff. He forced it up against Wade's body, hooking it under his legs and elbow, before using it to lift Wade up and send him flying on the ice. Wade once again landed hard before Grandmaster tossed his staff away.

Wade gritted his teeth as he fought through the pain added to the amount he already had. He forced himself back to his feet and raised his clenched fist in ready. Grandmaster got into his own pose, looking just as cool and ready as he did at the beginning of the fight. Wade on the other hand was showing signs of fatigue, pain, and frustration. Which of them was he feeling most? That was certainly debatable. Wade advanced on the attack again. This time, he was much more aggressive in his combos. Grandmaster even had to step up his defenses a little bit. Not only that, but The Grandmaster also had something else planned. Now that he had Wade riled up to the point he wanted, it was time to push the envelope even further. He would let Wade work out a combo, and then counter with a stiff shot with the knuckles in his fingers, driving them into wherever would hurt or agitate him the most, or even both. First, he nailed Wade in the ribs right under his armpit, one of the more sensitive areas to attack someone. He then continued to counter and stick him around the most sensitive regions of his ribcage. Wade got more hurt and more irritated with each shot. He started getting even more rapid and wildly furious with his attacks.

"Wade, control your anger!" Grandmaster said in between blocks.

Wade tried to keep himself calm, but he was more focused on his attack, not wanting to let up, feeling like he was closing in on his goal. He was so close, he could feel it. He kept up his attack, moving like a fighting machine. He was incredibly stronger and faster than he was in the beginning of this fight. He almost hit him at one point, just barely missing his jaw. He then threw one more blow, knowing he had him, that this was it, that he had him.

*CRACK!*

*BREAK!*

The ice beneath Wade's feet suddenly gave in and Wade felt himself fall into the freezing, stabbing ice cold waters before he could land the hit.

"Ssssshhhit!" Wade said as he felt the freezing waters tear at his body.

"You forgot to mind your footing and your weight" Grandmaster said as Wade struggled.

"You're right, and I'm sorry!" he frantically replied.

All the pain and anger he was feeling was now long gone. He was just trying to keep his head above water and crawl out, but the ice around him was slick and brittle. He could barely even keep himself above surface level.

"Could you help me out please?!" he begged with a shaking voice, already feeling his body going numb.

"I told you to control your anger" Grandmaster noted, ignoring his student's pleads. "You seem to rely on it in situations like these"

"Not right now I'm not!" Wade shakingly replied.

"But why? Why can you not control it better? Why do you always let your rage consume you in moments like these?" he kept questioning and Wade barely had the mindset to listen, let alone respond.

"Why Wade? Tell me!"

"BECAUSE I'M SICK AND TIRED OF FEELING HELPLESS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING! *panting* of not being able to help anyone...or even myself"

The Grandmaster grew a sympathetic look as Wade trembled, panted and shivered uncontrollably. A brief moment later and The Grandmaster used his telekinesis to lift Wade out. He gently laid him down on a much harder part of the ice, where Wade let out a hard sigh before continuing to shiver uncontrollably.

"Ok, come on Wade" Grandmaster came to his aid and slowly lifted him up. "Inside the cave"

Once they were inside, Grandmaster covered Wade in a cloak he always kept here for these types of sessions. He got a fire going and sat across from Wade. It took him a short while to stop shaking, but Wade finally managed to warm up a bit. Grandmaster instructed him to breath steadily and rub his chest to help warm up. They sat like that in silence for a long time; Wade desperately warming up and Grandmaster lost in his thoughts. That was, until Grandmaster broke the silence.

"Have you felt like that often? The feeling of helplessness? Not being able to help anything?"

Wade slowly faced up and looked straight at The Grandmaster.

"My whole life, my whole life I've seen these situations... and all I wanted to do is help, but I can't" he answered.

"And the rage?"

"Well, I guess in situations like those, and maybe in some other situations, rage is usually my best ally. Well, usually that is" Wade stated, his eyes lowering back to the fire.

"It is difficult, isn't it?" Wade faced back up, wondering what he meant. "Finding that midpoint where you can use rage without it consuming you?" he clarified and Wade nodded. It felt like forever since Wade had been trying to figure that out. It was an endless and, not to mention, hellaciously long battle.

"Rage can be a great weapon, but it cannot be the only thing that drives you. If it is, it will turn you into everything you hate, and you will not even realize it. I've seen it time and time again Wade, it's even happened to minions, and you must not let that happen to you"

Wade was surprised by that last part. Just the mere fact that a Minion could get affected by something like that was crazy, and scary.

"I haven't told you my real name, have I?" Wade scoffed from the question, not believing he was actually about to get his real name.

"Never, of course not"

"Hayao Nakamura"

Wade furrowed his eyebrows for a moment, believing he heard that name somewhere before.

"Hayao Nakamura" he repeated, continuing to piece together what that name meant. "Wait, wasn't that a..." Wade faced back up towards The Grandmaster, seeing the knowing look on his face. Wade's questioning expression turned into a shocked one.

"...a Japanese warlord"

"I was a samurai soldier of Japan. I became one for the same purpose as you; and like you, my rage was my greatest weapon. I used it to ensure peace, the safety of my homeland, and to stop evil men from conquering it. However, it was my only motivation. Although, I fought for good, the violence and darkness I faced only fueled my hatred; and I slowly became the evil I fought against. For years, I struggled against the darkness of my heart; and for years, I lost. I did terrible things, and I justified them by saying it was necessary, but none of it was. It was just the man I became"

This was all so much for Wade to take in. He never would've imagined that this man, the wise and peaceful and legendary Grandmaster, could've once been a warlord. It was also scary how easily somebody could go from being such a great person to everything they dreaded, and not even realize it.

"It is gravelly important that you do not let your fears, your hatred, or the darkness of this world cloud your mind and corrupt your heart. Otherwise, the end result could be disastrous" he continued.

"So I can tell" Wade nodded before blowing out a sigh. "Man, how did you overcome that?"

"The Minion Lord of that time was sent to put a stop to my reign, but he took pity on me instead. He felt I was only a lost soul in need of guidance. I had also begun to recognize the error in my ways and feared for the fate of my soul. He showed me the path to redeem myself by dedicating the rest of my life in serving the light and battling darkness, the right way of course. I have spent my life as a Minion, protecting the light from the dark, ever since"

"Wait, so you weren't always The Grandmaster?"

"Oh no, Minions existed long before I was born. I could not even say how long, but for a great many centuries" he stated.

Wade nodded before returning to his thoughts for a brief moment.

"So, how do I keep myself from falling down that path?"

"Well, as I said, rage can still be a great weapon. You notice how you were able to move faster and hit harder as the fight progressed?" he asked and Wade nodded, while smirking with amazement. "That is only the surface of what a true Minion's inner strength is. The rest of it comes from love"

"Love? You mean love AND rage both are what unlocks a Minion's powers?" Wade curiously asked.

"I'm sure you have heard the stories of ordinary people lifting up buses in order to save their loved ones? That is where a Minion's power comes from. You must take all of your love, all of your rage, every ounce of will and everything you have, everything in your heart, and unleash it; make that your power. When you fight, think of all the people your opponent has hurt, and all the people you are fighting to protect, let all of them drive you, motivate you and push you beyond your limits. When you combine love and rage, you get the greatest weapon of them all and nothing can stop you Wade, nothing at all"

That had to be the most incredible and most empowering speech Wade had ever heard in his life. The Grandmaster truly had a way with words. It made Wade feel better about this whole situation, and not nearly as frustrated as he had felt, like he could persevere through this, through anything at that.

"Thankyou for doing this, Grandmaster, this really has helped out a lot" Wade greatfully stated.

"Of course, it's why I'm here" Grandmaster smiled with a slight bow.

However, there was one more thing Wade got curious about.

"By the way, you said that the guy who helped you out was a Minion Lord? I've never heard that one before"

"Lordminion777, the highest rank of a minion soldier. I was a Minion Lord before I became Grandmaster. There has not been one since"

"For that long?" Wade asked in surprise.

"We have had potentials before, but none of them were able to reach Lord Minion status, for one reason or another. But I must confess, I brought you here because I believe you... could be the next one"

Now, if Wade wasn't incredibly amazed before, he was now. The Grandmaster actually had faith that Wade could be the top number one Minion ever?! It was beyond flattering, and it made Wade feel determined to accomplish that. He could already imagine what an honor that would be, and how much more he could accomplish with that. So, Wade officially made it his proclamation. He would be the next Lordminion777, he would do whatever he had to to get there, and he would be the greatest one ever.